EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CEO

About International Community Schools

International Community Schools (ICS) is a well-established and growing educational group in Abu Dhabi, delivering high-quality British and American curricula across six school branches.

We are seeking a highly professional, exceptionally organized, proactive, and results-driven Executive Assistant to the CEO to provide high-level executive, administrative, and strategic coordination support to the Chief Executive Officer.

This is a position of significant responsibility and trust, requiring an individual with exceptional judgment, discretion, communication skills, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced executive environment.

The successful candidate will serve as a trusted partner to the CEO, ensuring seamless executive operations, effective communication, timely follow-ups, and efficient coordination between senior leadership, school management, and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Support & Strategic Coordination

• Provide comprehensive executive and administrative support to the CEO, ensuring effective management of daily priorities and strategic commitments.
  

• Manage the CEO's calendar, appointments, meetings, travel arrangements, and executive correspondence.
  

• Act as a central coordination point between the CEO, senior leadership, school principals, department heads, and external stakeholders.
  

• Prioritize competing demands, anticipate executive requirements, and proactively resolve scheduling and operational challenges.
  

• Support the CEO in monitoring strategic initiatives, organizational priorities, and key management decisions.
  

Executive Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Draft, review, and coordinate professional correspondence, executive communications, presentations, and official documents.
  

• Liaise professionally with board members, senior executives, government authorities, business partners, and other stakeholders.
  

• Ensure timely communication and information flow between the CEO's office and various departments.
  

• Handle sensitive and confidential matters with the highest level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion.
  

Meeting Management & Follow-Up

• Organize executive meetings, leadership discussions, and strategic planning sessions.
  

• Prepare meeting agendas, briefing notes, presentations, reports, and supporting documentation.
  

• Record accurate minutes of meetings, document key decisions, and maintain structured action trackers.
  

• Follow up with relevant departments to ensure the timely execution of CEO directives and management decisions.
  

• Monitor deadlines, outstanding actions, and critical deliverables, escalating delays when necessary.
  

Operational Excellence & Executive Reporting

• Coordinate cross-functional projects and initiatives involving multiple school branches and departments.
  

• Consolidate management reports, operational updates, and performance information for executive review.
  

• Maintain organized and secure executive records, documentation, and correspondence.
  

• Identify opportunities to improve executive office efficiency, communication processes, and administrative workflows.
  

• Assist with special projects, confidential assignments, and other strategic responsibilities delegated by the CEO.
  

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Management, Communications, or a related discipline.
  

• Minimum 5–8 years of relevant experience, preferably including substantial experience as an Executive Assistant to a CEO, Managing Director, or other C-level executive.
  

• Previous experience supporting senior leadership within the UAE, preferably in the education sector or a multi-entity organization, is highly desirable.
  

• Proven ability to manage complex executive schedules, high-level correspondence, and confidential information.
  

• Excellent command of written and spoken English, with exceptional business communication and professional drafting skills.
  

• Arabic language proficiency is a strong advantage.
  

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, presentation tools, and digital collaboration platforms.
  

• Strong experience in preparing executive reports, presentations, meeting minutes, and action-tracking documentation.
  

• Demonstrated ability to coordinate effectively with senior management and multiple departments.
  

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for more than a traditional administrative assistant. The ideal candidate will be a highly capable executive professional who demonstrates:

• Executive Presence: A polished, confident, and professional approach when interacting with senior leadership and external stakeholders.
  

• Exceptional Discretion: Absolute integrity and confidentiality when handling sensitive executive and organizational matters.
  

• Proactive Thinking: The ability to anticipate requirements, identify potential challenges, and take initiative without constant supervision.
  

• Outstanding Organization: Excellent prioritization, multitasking, and time-management capabilities.
  

• Strong Follow-Through: A results-oriented mindset with the ability to ensure management decisions translate into timely actions.
  

• Effective Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills, diplomacy, sound judgment, and the confidence to communicate with stakeholders at all organizational levels.
  

• Adaptability & Resilience: The ability to remain composed, professional, and productive under pressure in a dynamic executive environment.
  

Benefits